The upcoming season of the comedy-drama series The Comeback delves into a compelling question: could artificial intelligence truly pen an entire sitcom? Its co-creator, the seasoned TV veteran Michael Patrick King, believes this scenario is ‘very possible’ and also suggests that the world needs to reconsider its perception of And Just Like That.
King’s illustrious career spans decades, marked by his contributions as a writer, director, and producer on acclaimed shows such as Murphy Brown, Will & Grace, and 2 Broke Girls. However, he is perhaps most widely recognized for his extensive involvement with the Sex and the City franchise, where he helmed much of its original run as showrunner, directed and wrote its two feature films, and masterminded its often-debated 2020s continuation, And Just Like That.
This month heralds the return of one of his most beloved, albeit perhaps less widely seen, creations: The Comeback. Co-created and co-written with Lisa Kudrow, the series first aired in 2005. It followed the journey of Valerie Cherish, a somewhat clueless sitcom actress portrayed by Kudrow, as she attempted to reclaim her fame through the then-novel medium of reality television. Despite its distinctive, awkwardly dark comedic tone earning accolades from critics and Emmy nominations, it initially struggled to gain a significant viewership.
Nine years later, in 2014, the show made a triumphant return with a critically acclaimed second season. In this installment, Valerie played herself in a gritty HBO dramatization of the events from season one, concurrently filming her experiences as an audition tape for The Real Housewives, all while grappling with her failing marriage and strained personal relationships.